HBA-SEP H.B. 1955 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1955 By: Zbranek Criminal Jurisprudence 6/14/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, a defendant placed in jail on account of failure to pay the fine and costs of a case was required to be discharged when the defendant had remained in jail a sufficient length of time to satisfy the fine and costs. The defendant could satisfy this amount at a rate of not less than $100 for each day or part of a day of jail time served, while a defendant who performed exactly eight hours of community service was discharged from $100 of fines or costs. House Bill 1955 provides consistency by authorizing a convicting court to specify a period of time that is not less than eight hours or more than 24 hours as the period for which a misdemeanant who fails to pay the fine and costs in the case must remain in jail to satisfy $100 of the fine and costs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1955 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize a convicting court to specify a period of time that is not less than eight hours or more than 24 hours as the period for which a misdemeanant who fails to pay the fine and costs in the case must remain in jail to satisfy $100 of the fine and costs. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.